New Caledonia's UNESCO World Heritage listed lagoon is a boundless playground offering infinite scope for leisure and sports activities.

Kanak culture

New Caledonia is a unique archipelago in the Pacific. You can choose to come and immerse yourself in the core of Kanak culture. To do this, nothing’s better than staying with a tribe. Along the Eastern cost and on the islands, traditions are still very much alive.

Nouméa, the capital city of New Caledonia is on the ocean. Several bays extend along the city, providing magnificent beaches and points of view. Besides its natural features, Nouméa also has very attractive cultural offerings for tourists who choose to visit there.

From Ouvéa to the Isle of Pines, passing through Lifou, Tiga and Maré, the five islands bordering the Mainland, Grande Terre to the East are yet more gems to discover. From the blue hole of Hanawa at Ouvéa to the Warrior’s Leap at Wakone on Maré, via the Jokin Cliffs at Lifou or the Oro Bay on the Isle of Pines, let yourself be amazed!

The West Coast of the mainland (Grande Terre) shows off a great variety of scenery from its northern tip down to the area surrounding Nouméa. Characterised by both large spaces favouring cattle farming and a lagoon of stunning beauty, the West Coast is also host to a rich cultural heritage.

The central mountain range of the Mainland (Grande Terre) is a natural boundary, overlooking the very different faces of the East and West Coasts. Exposed to strong winds and therefore more humid, the eastern coast offers scenery with sumptuous flora. With a population of largely Melanesian origin, the East Coast has also retained a particularly charming flavour of authenticity.

The Great South, comprising the Mont-Dore and Yaté municipalities, is the most symbolic region for New Caledonia’s three main colours: blue, green and red. From the rainforest to the mining lands there are a thousand shades of green, while the ocean offers a dazzling palette of blues. But if one colour dominates the Great South, it is the specific red of its ground.

Ponérihouen
the authentic

Literally translated, Ponérihouen means “river’s mouth” in the Paicî language, the local spoken vernacular. This name has been carried well by this town, which is settled on the land just before the mouth of the river. Ponérihouen is a village to be discovered – peaceful and authentic.

Historically, the tribal clans from the Ponérihouen region played an important role in populating Grande Terre. The Dui clans were responsible for populating the island to the north, and the Bayes clans spread south.

The “Eiffel” bridge: one of the town’s symbols

Nowadays, the symbolic image that seems to be attached to the town is the metallic bridge spanning the Nérihouen (or Naïriwa in the local language, meaning “river”). This bridge, which was constructed starting in the early 20th century, has long been nicknamed the “Eiffel bridge” due to its structural characteristics, which makes it look like the famous Parisian tower of the same name, yet it actually has nothing anything to do with Gustave Eiffel or his workshops!

With the exception of this bridge with a world-famous name, of course, the production of coffee has cemented Caledonian fame in the region of Ponérihouen. This is therefore one of the rare towns to have preserved this culture, while it has been more or less abandoned elsewhere in New Caledonia.

Pretty outings

Besides the wonderful living heritage, the region is also a perfect place for nice outings, two of which stand out. One is in the Nimbaye valley, winding through the heights of the central chain and accessing the beautiful panoramic view of Aoupinié. The other one will take you to the waterfall of Bâ, the surroundings of which have been recently renovated to let visitors fully enjoy the location. This excursion offers picnicking and swimming in the water hole at the bottom of the waterfall.

Celebrating the tradition of coffee production, a cultural and coffee farming festival (also celebrating yams, taro and wood, the other local specialties) is held every year in July/August in the town. This is a perfect occasion to sample the latest brews of local coffee or to observe delicate wood sculptures with artists abounding in the region. Besides the artists on site, a sawmill is actually set up to process reputed woods such as houp, kaori and tamanou.

Le Meridien Noumea is a unique blend of French sophistication and warm Pacific Island ambience. Located on the beachfront overlooking Anse Vata Bay, the hotel is nestled in the heart of tropical landscaped gardens with direct access to the beach.